Prospects of Indigenous Medicinal Plants of Himachal Himalaya

Abstract

This study centered on indigenous knowledge, marketing channels, conservation practices, impact of market forces and policies of Forest Department pertaining to medicinal plants at Chhakinal watershed in Himachal Himalaya. Earlier, medicinal plants were harvested on subsistence basis. But, in recent decades, factors such as rising market and population demand and change in socio-economic values have altered the extraction pattern at alarming pace resulting over-extraction of herbal plants. Further, some of tbe medicinal plants are under great pressure and are likely to disappear from tbe area. The margin of profits to the villagers from medicinal resources could be improved by appropriate changes in the marketing pattern, extraction procedure, improvement in traditional knowledge, empowerment of local communities and altering innovative Government policies and porgrammes. Government owned forestland and other uncultivated lands are the areas where medicinal plants can grow as constituents of natural vegetation.